Arrangement for phonographically recording and reproducing telephonic messages



. F. SEE L AU; ARRANGEMENT FCBPHONOGRAPHICALLY RECORDING AND REPRODUCLNG TELEPHON I C MESSAGES;

APPL lCATION FILED NOV; 30, 19l5.

Patented Sept. 14,1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l- F SEELAU.

ARRANGEMENT FOR PHONOGRAPHICALLY RECORDING AND REPRODUCING TELEPHONJC MESSAGES.

I APPLICATION FILED NOV-30, 1915- 1,352,546, Patented-Sept. 14,1920.

2 SHEETSqSHEET 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

FRANZ SEELAU, F BERLIN-WILMERSDORF, GERMANY, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO ALEXANDER M. NEWMAN, BERLIN-WANNSEE,.GERMANY.

ARRANGEMENT. FOR PHONOGRAPHIGALLY RECORDING AND REPRODUCING TELE- PHONIC MESSAGES.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented S t 14 19 20 Application filed November 30, 1915. Serial No. 64,210.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, FRANZ SEELAU, a subiect of, the German Emperor, residing at Berlin-Wilmersdorf, Germany, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Arrangements for Phonographi- -messages to be recorded. It is therefore obvious, that the eificiency of, or the return obtained from such arrangement, would be much greater if it were possible to put it to other uses during its idle hours, for example as a dictaphone.

This is realized by means of the following invention, according to which those parts of the arrangement which phonographically record the telephone message are ,readily exchangeable for parts which allow of a purely phonographic employment of the apparatus, whereas those parts of the arrange ment which are required in both instances, remain unchanged. To this latter class of parts belong, above all, the motor with the cylinder for the record rolls, and then the mechanism for feeding the sound-box carriage. On the other hand, a part which cannot be used for both duties is the sound-box, which is therefore, according to the present invention, secured in a readily detachable manner to the parts remaining for both duties. For the telephonographic service the sound-box requires a suitable magnet arrangement, which, by its action on the diaphragm will cause the arriving variable or fluctuating electric cur-- rent to produce phonographic oscillations. The sound-box, therefore, which is constructed on what may be termed an electrophonic principle, cannot be used forfl thepurely-phonographic service, and, acco ing, to the present invention, a sound-box isle stituted in its place, which may be termed a pneuma-phonic sound-box, or, in other wbrds, a sound-box, in which the phonographic oscillations of the stylus or needle will, by aid of the diaphragm, produce" waves in the air, which are discernible. to the ear as sounds. By either of these soundboxes being brought, by means of a readily effected coupling to the carriage, in front of the phonographic record roll, the twofold use of the arrangement is rendered possible, and according to the one or the other service intended, the respective sound-box is employed.

However, a simple exchange of the electrophonic parts for corresponding pneumaphon'ic parts will not sufiice to render the apparatus completely serviceable for the respective purpose, as the electric connections' re uired for the telephonographic record m ght, when the apparatus is used for purely phonographic purposes, easily be the cause of trouble. This is avoided, ac cording to the presentinventi'on, by the provision-that by the exchange of:-the parts mentioned, the said electric connections are automatically switched off.

The hereinbefore described arrangement is very advantageously simplified by providing, instead of two complete sound-boxes, a single sound-box, which is rigidly fitted to the carriage, and themagnet-arrangement of which is detachable and exchangeable for a phonographic sound-tube. As is evident from the foregoing, the sound box to be employed has a diaphragm which is coupled to a phonographic recording lever.

According to the present invention this part of the sound-box is left non-exchangeable, and a magnet arrangement for the telephonographic service is fitted in a suitable manner, throughthe windings of which the telephone currents are sent, so that the diaphragm, oppositeto which-said magnet-arrangement is'disposed, forms the intermediate, transmitting linkf forconverting the magneto-electric waves into the mechanical oscillations off the phonographic recording stylus. WhenLthe-apparatus is to be used for purely jphonographic service this magnet-arrangement is removed, and in its pl'acea sound-tube, connection is introduced intfifiillle sound-box, so that the words spoken into. thehorn fitted therein will act in the well-known manner on the diaphragm as with the usual dictating machines. When the sound-box is of this construction, the telephone circuits may be switched on or off in a very simple manner. The casing of the apparatus is made with a chamber to receive the magnet-arrangement, when the latter has been removed, and this receiver, as we may call it, is provided with a contact arrangement. By the magnet-arrangement being placed into the receiver, the said contact arrangement is operated, so that the wires of the telephone circuits are switched off. Thus no trouble may arise from the telephone circuits, after the telephonograph has been converted into a dictating machine.

In the accompanying drawing an embodiment of the present invention is shown by way of example. Figures 1 and 2 are general views of the apparatus, seen from in front and from one side, respectively. Figs. 3 and 4 show, on a larger scale, a preferable form of the convertible sound box in two different positions. Fig. 5 is a diagram, indicating the connections of the telephone circuits.

The apparatus comprises a box-shapedf casing 1 of any approved construction in which the motor and gearing are disposed. The said gearingis connected in a suitable manner with the roll cylinder 2 disposed on the top of the said box, on which cylinder 2 is placed the phonographic record roll 3. Opposite to the record roll 3 is a mechanism l for guiding and feeding the sound-box carriage 5. This-mechanism consists, as may be seen in Figs. 3 and at, of a rotary feed screw held against longitudinal movement and a stationary tube 7 inclosing the same, said tube '7 having on its underside a longitudinal slot 8. On this tube 7 the carriage 5 glides by means of a tubular member 9 which, on its lower side, has an opening registering with the slot 8. Through this opening projects a nut or traveler 10 provided with threads to fit those of ,the screw 6 and thus couple the carriage 5 and the screw 6, it being understood that the traveler or nut 10 and the carriage 5 are held to move in unison lengthwise of the tube or guide 7. The nut 10 is fitted in a slot of the carriage so that it may be radially displaced relatively to the screw 6 by means of the hereafter described mechanism. The said'nut 10 has on one side a lug 11, which engages under a recess 12 in a collar 13, which is guided on the tubular member 9 of the carriage 5. The nut 10 is under the influence of a spring 1.4, which tends to engage said nut with the screw 6. This engagement will be effected when the collar 13 is in such position that the recess 12 is directly above the lug 11. turned by means of the handle 15, the nut will be forced downward and thereby the When, however, the collar is.

engagement between the nut 10 and the screw 6 will be broken and the carriage disconnected from the feed mechanism. In order that the carriage be prevented from turning a' second guide for the carriage is provided in the usual manner by a downbox is formed to a sound-mouth 22, into which, by aid of a bayonet-lock 23 different insets described hereinafter may be fitted. To a bracket 24 beneath the'bracket 18 is pivoted a lever 25, to the one end of which, projecting beneath thebox-casing 19 the recording stylus lever 26 is fitted by means of a pan and knife-edge and a spring. The stylus lever carries at its one end the recording stylus 27 and, a little farther back, the reproducing stylus 28, whereas at the other end a wire 29 forms the connection with the diaphragm 20. On thev collar 13 is, further, provided an upward pointing nose 30 which can engage under thelever 25, when the handle 15 of the collar 13 is turned downward. Thereby the stylus lever 26 is moved upward, and the styluses 27 or 28, respectively, are lifted off the record.

To the bracket 24 is, furthermore, attached a weight 31. This weight has a downward extending shoulder 32, which may bear on the nose 33 of the carriage 5, as shown in Fig. 3. In consequence thereof the lever 25 is not weighted by the weight 31, whereas when the parts 32 and 33 are released, the weight 31 can act on the lever 25 (Fig. 4). These two positions are obtained by the whole soundbox being pivotally fitted to the carriage, by either the bracket 18 being made in the form of a fork, inclo'sing an arm 34 rigidly attached to the carriage guide, or, the bracket 18 being inclosed, as intermediate member, by the arm 34,'this latter. having the shape of a fork. The whole sound box may, therefore be moved, relatively to the roll 3, in such a stylus 27 bears lightly against the roll 3, as

in the record groove.

this is necessary for making the record. By

the reversal into the lower position the shoulder 32 slips off the nose 33, so that the weightpresses on the lever 25, in order to secure the engagement of the rounded reproducing stylus 29, now comingin to action, Both positions are secured by a lock being provided which couples the two parts 18 and 34 in either of the two positions by the engagement of a pin. For this object, for example, a bolt 35 may be "provided which can be extracted contrary to the action of a coiled spring disposed within, said boltengaging, at the said positions in the arm 34 fitted to the carriage. To the carriage are also fitted two pins 36, disposed beside each other (in Figs. 3 and 4 they are seen behind eachother'). Opposite to these pins 36 a crosspiece 37 is provided on the bracket 24 and preferably made "of an elastic material 'VVhen the sound-box is in recording position (Fig. 3) the crosspicce 37 bears against the pins 36. Thereby the bracket 24, which by means ofscrew 38 is pivoted to the bracket 18, is arrested. The object of this is to lock the recording stylus lever in its recording position (Fig. 3) so that lateral oscillations of the stylus 27 are obviated. In the reproducingposition the crosspiece 37 is lifted off the pins 36 so that the system of levers 2526 is loose and the reproducing stylus may, therefore, freely follow'the grooves made by therecording stylus, so as to reduce the wear on these to a minimum.

ment is inclosed in a casing 42, which, on

' the side of the poleshoes' is given such a shape, that it exactly fits into the sound- 45 rangement is inserted, are. at a very small distance from the diaphragm 20 which is mouth 22 and allows of the poleshoes 41' projecting so far that these, when the arpreferably made of some magnetic, material,

from the casing 42 and The diagram Fig. 5 shows the connections of the electric part of thee paratusj. To'the terminals 45 which may e disposed on the outside or inside of the box '1 i s connected the telephone line arriving from the exchange and indicated by the arrows. The

current then. flows within the box 1 first through the condenser 54, which is intended I d .nection' pieces; Now the lever '15 is again,

the magnet coils 40. In the return path of the current .is provided a contact 47, which lug 30 on the collar 13. In cons -thereof itis possible to return the 'carri ,withthe sound-box into its initial positlon'. Now the magnet-arrangement 50 is removed This distance may be adjiusted by; means of an adjusting attachment 43. From the winding of the coils 40 a wire leads asses through' the top of. the box 1, as seen in Figs. 1 and 2;

.ceiver 49. d The contact 47, thereby operated,

breaks the'current'circuit, so that,jin case a telephone call now arrives, the telegraphone is under action of a lever 48. This lever, which projects from the front of the casing (Figs. 1 and 2) carries a kind of tray, which serves as receiver 49 for the magnet arrangement 50, when the latter is removed from the sound box. The object of this arrangement is to break the telephone circuit, when the magnet arrangement 50 is out out.

In place of the magnet arrangement 50 a dictating speaking tube 51, or a listening tube, or a horn may be inserted, each of which is provided with a tubular connection member 52, fitting exactly in the sound mouth 22.

The operation of the arrangement is as follows: When a callv arrives from the telephone exchange, the subscriber'receives the message in the usual manner with his receiver 46. If he desires to record the conversationensuing, he releases by means of a lever indicated at53 the motor of the tele-' graphone. For this the apparatus must be in the position forrecording telephone messages, in other words, the magnet-arrangement must be fitted to thesound-box and the carriage 5 must be set to the left at the commencement of the roll 3. The sound-box itself, furthermore must be in recording position. This position, shown in Fig. 3 is its upper position, at which the sharp recording stylus 27 bears a ainst the roll andthe weight 31 is lifted oil the lever 25, so that the latter is under no load. By turning the handle 15 upward, the nut 10 is released, so that the carriage 5 with the sound-box 100, is coupled to the screw 6. I i

The telephone currents flowing through the coils 40 of the magnet-arrangementwill now cause the diaphra m to oscillate, and

the recordin stylus 2 will follow such oscillations of the said diaphragn 20-. Thereby the conversation will be recorded as if by a phonograph onto the roll 3'. When the conversation has ceased and the motor has been stopped, the handle 15 is first pressed down, whereby the carriage 5 is released from thescrew- 6, and the. recording, lever system is lifted off the roll 3 byaidj-of the from the sound-box" and placed into the relifted and thereby the carriage is a ain coupled to the screw 6', and therecor ing lever system 25-26 is released. Thesound box is then thrown over by the bolt 35 being withdrawn and the sound-box being lowered toward the roll 3. Thereby the recording lever is so moved that the reproducing stylus 28 bears against the roll 3, engaging into the record. The weight 31 has been released by the lug 33, so that it bears on the lever 25; furthermore the locking of the bracket 24 and the lever system 2526 have been released by the parts 36 and 37 being separated.

WVhen, now, the motor is released, the phonographic record of the conversation recorded will be reproduced in the well-known manner. By such means the apparatus may be used for an ordinary phonographic reproduction, or as a dictating machine.

I/Vhen a recordis to be made as if on a dictating machine, the sound-box with the dictating tube is employed. This tube 51 is readily attached to the sound-box by the part 52 being fitted into the sound mouth 22. By adjusting the soundbox to the upper position, the recording. leyer system is brought into recording position, so that the recording stylus 27 bears againstthe roll 3 (Fig. Now the recording of the dictation may proceed in the usual known manner.

It is superfluous to here describe the reproduction by the apparatus as a dictating machine, as the reproduction of telephonographically or dictaphonographically recorded conversations is identical.

In place of the phonographic recording system, also the gramophone recording system may be employed, so much the more as the whole phono-technical part of the apparatus is of a minor importance as regards the present invention, and the feature of the present invention essentially lies in the convertibility of the telegraphonic apparatus into a purely phonographic apparatus, irrespectively of the construction of the individual parts.

I claim 1. In an arrangement for phonographically recording and reproducing telephone messages, a sound box, containing a diaphragm, a lever connected with said diaphragm, and carrying a recording and a reproducing stylus, means adapted to actuate said diaphragm by electrically produced sound waves, said means adapted to be easily introduced in the said sound box into operative relation to said diaphragm, to cause said recording stylus to record the electrically produced sound waves onto a phonographic record blank, the said means being easily removable from the sound box, and means adapted for connection with said sound box after the removal of said electrical actuating means, and adapted to receive the sound waves produced by the vibrations of the diaphragm when reproducing the message recorded on such blank.

2. In an arrangement for phonographically recording and reproducing telephone messages, a sound box containing a diaphragm, a lever connected with said diaphragm and carrying a recording and a reproducing stylus, means adapted to actuate said diaphragm by electrically produced sound waves, said means being easily removable from the said sound box, a support to receive said means when so removed, a switch for automatically establishing or cutting off a connection of said electric means with a talking circuit, said switch being in such operative relation to said electric means and said support, that it will automatically establish said talking circuit, when said means are removed from said sup port and placed in said sound box.

3. In an arrangement for phonographically recording and reproducing telephone messages a sound box containing a diaphragm, a lever connected with said diaphragm and carrying a recording and a reproducing stylus, an electromagnet adapted to actuate said diaphragm, said electromagnet being adapted to be easily introduced in the said sound box into operative relation to the said diaphragm to cause its Vibration by the electrical sound waves flowing through the coils of the electromagnet, and to cause the recording stylus to record such vibrations on a record blank said electromagnet being easilyremovable from the said sound box, means likewise adapted for connection with said sound box, to receive the sounds produced by the diaphragm when reproducing.

4.. In an arrangement for phonographically recording and reproducing telephone messages, a sound box containing a diaphragm, a lever connected with said diaphragm, and carrying a recording and a reproducing stylus, an electromagnet, adapted to be easily introduced and removed from the said sound box and to actuate the diaphragm, a lever switch adapted to make or break a connection between the windings of the electro-magnet and the telephone circuit, a tray connected with the lever of said switch and adapted to receive the said electromagnet when removed from the sound box, to operate the switch by the weight of the electromagnet to break the connection a with the telephone circuit.

5. In an arrangement for phonographically recording and reproducing telephone messages, a sound box movable into a record-- box assumes one position or the other, electrical diaphragm actuating means adapted to be removably fitted to said sound box in operative relation to said diaphragm, and means'likewise adapted to be fitted to said sound box 'removably, for receiving the sound waves produced by the diaphragm when reproducing. 1

6. In an arrangement for phonogra'phically recording and reproducing telephone messages, a sound box movable into a recording position and into a reproducing positionand provided with a diaphragm, recording and reproducing means, connected with said diaphragm, electrical diaphragm actuating means adapted to be removably fitted to said sound box in operative relation to said diaphragm, and means likewise-adapted to be fitted to said sound box removably, for rediaphragm when reproducing.

In an arrangement for phonographiceiving the'sound waves produced by the cally recording and reproducing telephone messages, a sound-box movable into a reconding position and into a reproducing position and provided with a diaphragm, recordin and reproducing means connected with sai diaphragm, electrical diaphragm actuatin means adapted to beremovably fitted to sai sound box in operative relation to said dia phragm, a switch controlling the telephone circuit and arranged to be operated by the weight of said actuating means when removed from thesoundbox, and means likewise adapted to be fitted to said sound box removably, for receiving the sound waves producedby the diaphragm when reproducm in testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

, FRANZ SEELAU. Witnesses:

HENRY HASPER,

J LILLI FRANK. 

